Explosive opening of a fluid container



nited States Patent I Patented Inventor George A. Ekstrom Southlield,Michigan 669,106

Sept. 20, 1967 Nov. 10, 1970 Eaton Yale & Towne Inc. Cleveland, Ohio acorporation of Ohio Appl. No. Filed Assignee EXPLOSIVE OPENING OF AFLUID CONTAINER 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl.'...... 280/150,

102/24 Int. Cl. B60r 21/00 Field of Search 280/ 1 50;

l02/24(HC). 49.5; 222/5: 60/26.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,248,072 4/ 1966 Schimmel244/ 1 3,336,868 8/1967 Rush et a1. 102/24 3,429,583 2/1969 Martin etal. 280/150 Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Attorney-Yount, Flynn &Tarolli ABSTRACT: A fluid container stores fluid under pressure foroperating a vehicle safety device in the form of an expansibleconfinement. The fluid container is opened to release the fluid for flowtherefrom and to the confinement. An explosive means in cooperation witha means acting to oppose the explosive forces acting on the containereffect opening of the container by a shearing action.

atented Nov. 10, 1970 3,539,199

INVENTOR. 650/?65 A. EKSTROM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov, 10, 1970 Sheet FIG.7

FIG .6

INVENTOR. 60R6 A. E/(STAOM ATTORNEYS I EXPLOSIVE OPENING OF A FLUIDCONTAINER The present invention relates to an apparatus for releasingfluid under pressure from a container, and in particular relates to anapparatus including a fluid container which is opened by detonation ofan explosive means to provide for fluid flow from the container.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a newand improved apparatus in which fluid under pressure in a container isreleased therefrom upon the formation of an opening therein and whichopening is formed in a reliable, simple manner by a shearing action.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a'n'ewand improved apparatus in which fluid under pressure in a container isreleased by opening of the container by the cooperation of forcesproduced by detonation of an explosive means and means acting on thecontainer to oppose the force produced by detonation of the explosivematerial.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved apparatus which includes a fluid container and means foropening the container to provide for flow of fluid from the container,and wherein the means for opening the container includes an explosivemeans for applying a force to a first area of the container and 'meansacting on a second area of the container adjacent the first area and in,opposition to the force applied by the explosive means whereby as aresult the container is sheared due to the effect of the forces actingthereon.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anew and improved apparatus wherein a fluid container is opened by ashearing action and wherein the container includes means locatedinteriorly of the container for acting on a wall portion of thecontainer, and means acting exteriorly of the container acting on anadjacent wall portion of the container and in an opposite direction thefirst means to effect a shearing of the wall portion of the containerand opening of the container.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved apparatus, as noted in the next paragraph, wherein the meansacting exteriorly and interiorly of the container comprises explosivemeans.

Still another object of the present invention is the provisionembodiments of the resent invention made in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts removed of avehicle embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately along the section line2L2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of a portion of the container shown in FIG. 3and illustrating the opening in the container produced by thearrangement of F IG, 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to H6. 3 and illustrating a further embodimentof the present invention;

FlG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a still furtherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and illustrati'ng theopening of the container by the arrangement shown in FIG. 6.

The present invention relates to an improved means for explosivelyopening a fluid pressure container. The fluid when released from thecontainer may be used to operate various devices. Preferably and asillustrated, the fluid when released operates a vehicle safety device inthe form of an inflatable confinement. The safety device may be used inany type of vehicle, such as an airplane, automobile, or a truck.

Referring to the drawing, F l0. 1 discloses an apparatus 10 for storingand releasing fluid under pressure. In the illustrated embodiment, theapparatus 10 operates a vehicle safety apparatus 12. The safetyapparatus 12 includes an inflatable confinement or bag 13 which has acollapsed condition in which the confinement 13 is located in areceptacle 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the receptacle 14 isformed in the dash of the vehicle. When collapsed, the confinement 13 isout of sight and is inflated when the vehicle encounters a crashcondition and is shown inflated in FIG. 1. When inflated, theconflnement 13 restrains the occupant of the vehicle from impact ingforcefully against the structural part of the vehicle.

of a new and improved apparatus, as noted above, wherein the meansacting exteriorly of the container comprises an explosive means and themeans which acts interiorly of the container comprises a shear barmounted interiorly of the c0ntaincr.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved apparatus wherein a fluid container is opened by a shearingaction and wherein the shearing action is produced by an explosive meanswhich encircles one end of the container and when detonated producesforces acting inwardly of the container, and wherein a member is locatedwithin the container and resists the action of the explosive means toeffect a shearing of the container.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of anew and improved apparatus which includes a fluid container and meansfor opening the container and wherein the means for opening thecontainer includes an explosive means and a member which cooperates withthe explosive means and wherein the explosive means is associated withone area of the container and the member is secured to an adjacent areaof the container and wherein upon detonation of the explosive means, theportion of the container on which the member is located and the portionof the container on which the explo sive is mounted move relatively toeffect opening of the container.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved apparatus, as noted in the preceding paragraph, wherein themember comprises a shear bar which acts to oppose the forces acting onthe container'by the explosive thereby resulting in a shearing of thecontainer.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates fromthe following description of preferred The confinement 13 is inflated bythe apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 may be positioned within theconfinement 13 and is suitably secured along one side of the receptacle14, as shown in FIG. 1. The inflating apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 2,includes a diffuser tube 20 and a fluid container 22 mounted within thediffuser tube 20 and concentrically with respect to the diffuser tube20. The diffuser tube 20 is closed at each end by closure members 24,26, which close at the left and right ends, respectively, of thediffuser tube 20, as viewed in FlG. 2. The closure members 24, 26 haveportions 28, 30 formed along the inner faces thereof and which extendaxially toward one another when assembled in the ends of the diffusertube 20. The portions 28, 30 extend into and seal the ends of thecontainer 22.

The fluid container 22 is illustrated as being generally cylindricallyshaped and contains or stores fluid under pressure. When the vehicleencounters a crash condition which is sensed by suitable crash sensormeans, such as disclosed in the copending US. Pat. application Ser. No.562,289, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,292 assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention, the fluid container 22 is opened by an explosivemeans or member, indicated generally as 32. The opening of thecontainer22 permits the fluid to escape therefrom to inflate the confinement 13.

The confinement 13 must be inflated rapidly so as to restrain movementof the occupant as a result of the force of the crash. Accordingly, theopening of the fluid container 22 must provide a fluid flow ofsufficient volume to provide for inflating the confinement 13 within theprescribed time. if the opening in the container 22 is too small, theconfinement 1.3

will not provide the necessary resistance to the occupants movement, andif the opening is too large, the rate of flow of fluid from thecontainer may be so great that the flow would rupture the confinement13.

The explosive means 32 which operates to open the container 22 mayinclude any suitable type of explosive material.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, a so-called multidirectional sheet explosive stripmaterial 34 is used. The multidirectional strip 34 is known commerciallyas Dupont Detasheet. It has been found that a satisfactory opening canbe provided in the container 22 by using approximately a 6 inch strip ofDetasheet which is a fraction of an inch thick and wide.

As stated heretofore, the Detasheet strip 34 is a mu]- tidirectionalexplosive and therefore the forces resulting from the explosion thereofact in different directions upon detonation. Consequently, when thistype of explosive is used, it is desirable to employ a backup member,such as the backup member 36, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, to containand reflect the forces acting in directions different from that in whichthe work is to be done, that is, those forces which act away from thesurface of the container 22 are directed by the backup member 36 towardthe container 22.

The backup member 36 is a channel-shaped member which may be secured tothe container 22 in overlying relation to the strip 34. Thischannel-shaped member 36 may be secured to the container 22 by anysuitable means, such as a flat coil spring 38. The spring 38 is wrappedaround the container 22 and backup member 36 and maintains the backupmember 36 in position overlying the strip 34. The backup member 36operates to contain the forces resulting from the explosion of.

the strip 34 and directs the forces to act against the surface of thecontainer 22.

The explosive strip 34 is ignited by a detonator 40 forming a part ofthe explosive means 32. When the crash sensor of the vehicle isactuated, an electric circuit is completed to the detonator 40. Thedetonator 40 may be any suitable commercial type of detonator and whenactuated by the flow of electric current therethrough, sets off thecharge strip 34.

The opening of the container 22 is effected by the cooperation of theexplosive means 32 and means which opposes the action of the explosivemeans. As shown in FIG. 3, the means opposing the action of theexplosive strip 34 comprises an elongated shear bar 42. The shear bar 42is secured to a wall portion of the container which is adjacent the wallportion of the container 22 against which the forces of the explosive 32act. As shown in FIG. 3, the forces of the explosive strip 34 actagainst a portion 22a of the container 22 and the shear bar 42 ismounted on an area 22b which is immediately adjacent the area 220. Theshear bar 42 acts on the area 22b in an opposite direction to thedirection of the force applied by the explosive 34 to the area 22a. As aresult, a shearing and permanent offsetting deformation of the wallportion of the container is effected.

The elongated shear bar 42 is arranged substantially parallel to thestrip of explosive material 34 and may be welded or otherwise secured tothe container 22. Moreover, the strip of explosive material 34 is offsetcircumferentially therefrom so as to act on the area 22a as is clearfrom FIG. 3. One edge of the explosive strip 34 is colinear with the oneedge of the shear bar 42, as shown in FIG. 3.

The opening of the container provided by the construction shown in FIG.3 is illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the portion 22a of thecontainer is moved inwardly of the portion 22b of the container and as aresult an opening 44 is provided in the wall of the container. Fluid inthe container rushes from this opening 44 and flows into the confinement13 to effect inflation of the confinement. The opening 44 in thecontainer 22 is of sufficient size to permit release of the fluid fromthe container 22 to inflate the confinement 13 within the allotted timeand at the required rate.

More specifically, the opening 44 in the container 22 permits fluid toflow into the outer diffuser tube 20. The diffuser tube has a pluralityof circumferential slots 47 formed along a portion of the diffuser tube20 opposite the location of the explosive means 32 on the container 22and through which the fluid enters the confinement 13. The fluidescaping from the opening 44 impinges upon the solid side of the outertube 20 and as a result some of the energy thereof is absorbed.Thereafter, the fluid flows through the slots 47 and into theconfinement R3 at a rate such that the confinement I3 is inflated withinthe allotted time without rupturing of the confinement.

It should be apparent from the above, that applicant has provided a newand improved means of opening a fluid pressure container through the useof an explosive force and a means which acts on the container andresists the action of the explosive force. In the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 3, the means which resists the action of the explosive forcecomprises the shear bar 42. Moreover, it should be apparent that theopening in the container may be provided by a shearing action, asdescribed in connection with FIG. 3, where the explosive strip 34 islocated on the inner side of the container 22 and acts on an innerportion of the container 22 and the shear bar 42 acts on the outside orexterior of the container 22. The force of the explosive acting on thewall of the container 22 and the resistance provided by the shear bar 42will result in opening of the container 22.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5 operatesin substantially the same manner as the embodiment illustrated in FIG.3, and similar reference numerals will be used to designatecorresponding parts. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, anexplosive means 32 in strip form is provided on the exterior of thecontainer 22 and acts on the area 22a of the container. In theembodiment of FIG. 5, an explosive means 52 is arranged in the interiorof the container and acts on area 22b of the container which is adjacentthe area 22a. The explosive means 52 which is arranged on the interiorof the fluid container 22 to act on the area 22b thereof, may be anexplosive similar to the explosive means 32. The explosive means aresheet explosives and are illustrated schematically in FIG. 5.

The opening of the container 22, as shown in FIG. 5, is effected by theshearing of the wall of the container in much the same manner asdescribed hereinabove in connection with FIG. 3. However, the forcesprovided for shearing the container are explosive forces which act inopposite directions as a result of simultaneous detonation of theexplosive means 32, 52. When the explosive means 32, 52 are detonated,the force of detonation is applied to the adjacent areas 22a, 22b,respectively, of the container 22 in opposite directions and effect ashearing of the container 22 and an opening of the container 22. Theexplosive means 32, 52 are suitably detonated by commercially availabledetonators, and upon detonation provide opposing forces acting on thecontainer 22.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7,a fluid container is again sheared by the cooperating action of a meanswhich acts on the interior of the container in opposition to explosiveforces applied to the exterior of the container, in much the same manneras described hereinabove in connection with FIGS. 3 and 5. Accordingly,similar reference numerals will be used to designate correspondingparts.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the container 22 is closed atone end by a closure member 66 which has an axially extending portion 68which extends inwardly into the fluid container 22. The axial extendingportion 68 engages the interior of wall portion 22b of the container 22for substantially the entire circumferential extent thereof. Anexplosive means '79 is wrapped around the exterior of the container 22and is positioned thereon by a retaining member 74. The retaining member74 positions the explosive means so that the forces resulting therefromact against an area 22a of the container 22, which area is adjacent anarea 22!) of the container 22. As a result, the detonation of theexplosive 79 acts on the area 22a of the container forcing the area 2241inwardly of the container. These forces are resisted or acted against bythe portion 68 acting on the portion 22b of the container 22. As aresult, the portion 22a of the container is forced inwardly of thecontainer and a shearing of the end of the container 22 is effected toprovide the opening 44 in the end of the container, as illustrated inFIG. 7. Fluid then rushes from the opening 44 inthe container 22 andinto the confinement 113,

as described hereinabove, to effect inflation of the confinement l3 Itshould be apparent from the above that applicant has provided a new andimproved construction for opening a fluid pressure container to providea flow of fluid for inflation of a safety device in the form of aninflatable confinement on a vehicle.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising a container for fluid under pressure, means foropening said container to provide for fluid flow therefrom, said meansincluding explosive means on said container for applying a force againstsaid container upon detonation thereof, and a substantiallynondeformable member of a relatively high density material mounted onsaid container and acting on said container in opposition to said forceproduced by said explosive means and cooperating with saidexplosive'means to effect shearing of said container and opening thereofto release the fluid in said container for flow therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said explosive means acts ona first area of said container, and said member for acting on saidcontainer in opposition to said force produced by said explosive meansacts on a second area of said container immediately adjacent said firstarea to effect said shearing of said container.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said member for acting onsaid container comprises a member at one end of said container andprojecting into said container, and said explosive means comprises anelongate strip explosive extending around said one end of said containerso that upon detonation of said strip of explosive material said one endof said container is sheared.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said explosive meanscomprises a first strip of explosive material on the exterior of saidcontainer and said member for acting on said container comprises asecond strip of explosive material secured interiorly of said container.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including an inflatableconfinement having a contracted condition and an expanded condition andassociated with said container to be inflated by the flow of fluidtherefrom.

6. An apparatus comprising a container for fluid under pressure, meansfor opening said container to provide for fluid flow therefrom, saidmeans including an elongated explosive strip secured to said containerfor applying a force against said container upon detonation thereof, andan elongated shear bar secured to said container for acting on saidcontainer in opposition to said force produced by said elongatedexplosive strip and cooperating with said elongated explosive strip toeffect shearing of said container and opening thereof to release thefluid in said container for flow therefrom, said explosive strip andsaid shear bar being arranged in an offset relation on opposite sides ofa wall portion of said container so that said explosive strip acts on afirst area of said container and said shear bar acts on a second area ofsaid container immediately adjacent said first area to effect saidshearing of said container.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said explosive strip islocated exteriorly of said container and said shear bar is locatedinteriorly of said container.

8. Apparatus comprising container means for fluid under pressure, meansfor opening said container means to provide for fluid flow therefrom,said means including an elongated explosive strip secured to saidcontainer means which directs a force against a first area of saidcontainer means upon detonation, an elongate shear bar secured to saidcontainer means acting on a second area of said container meansimmediately adjacent said first area and in opposition to said forceproduced by said elongate explosive strip and cooperating with saidelongated explosive strip to effect shearing of said container means anda permanent offsetting deformation of said areas to form an opening insaid container means and thereby release fluid in said container meansfor flow therefrom, said explosive strip and said shear bar beingarranged in an offset relation on opposite sides of a wall portion ofsaid container means, and a confinement adapted to be mounted on avehicle and associated with said fluid container means so as to beinflated by the flow of fluid from said container means 9. Apparatus asdefined in claim 8 wherein said explosive strip is located exteriorly ofsaid container means and said shear bar is located interiorly of saidcontainer means and effects a permanent inward deformation of said firstarea of said container means relative to said second area of saidcontainer means.

